Circuit controlling means



Feb. 28, 1967 R. H. LAWRENCE CIRCUIT CONTROLLING MEANS Filed Oct. 22,1965 INVENTOR @lf/MR@ H fawef/fcf United States Patent C) 3,307,006CIRCUIT CONTRLLING MEANS Richard H. Lawrence, 3341 Monterey Drive, NewBerlin, Wis. 53151 Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 500,801 9 Claims. (Cl.20G-166) This invention relates to a circuit controlling means andparticularly to a means for making and breaking a circuit.

In signalling and control circuits, means for making and breaking one ormore electrical circuits in response to a relatively small movement orthe like may be desirable. Although various switching devices have beenproposed, a highly sensitive switching circuit particularly forsimultaneously making and breaking of different circuits withoutessentially any time difference has not heretofore been provided.

The present invention is particularly directed to an improved circuitcontrolling means including means for making and breaking of a circuitin response to very minute 4movements and particularly to controllingload circuits in sequence.

Generally, in accordance with the present invention, a floating memberis provided with a flat and preferably polished contact surface. Themember is mounted with the contact surface in opposed relation to aplurality of spaced contacts which are arranged in a generally convexsurface beneath the contact surface. The contact member constitutes acommon terminal power connection to one side of a power source and theseveral individual contacts provide separate load connections to theopposite side of a power source. The member rests on the contacts andcan engage any two of the contacts at the very most and when engagedtherewith provides completion of power to both of the engaged contacts.Very slight or minute pivotal movement of the member with respect to anengaged contact however causes it to engage the adjacent contact andprovide energization of only one circuit. The member then pivots aboutthe single engaged contact. The amount of movement required for makingand breaking the circuit to any given contact can be made extremelysmall such that as a practical matter only one circuit will be energizedat any given time. The positioning of the member can be determined by apositioning control means connected thereto to pivot the barsuccessively about the several contacts.

In a preferred construction, the several contacts are formed withgenerally spherical or round contact surfaces which engage the flatcontact surface. The surface is formed as a flat and hardened surface onone face of a bar which is similar line engagement between the barConsequently, only the slightest movement is required to make and breakthe circuit therebetween Due to the relatively small contact area,however, the

3,307,000 Patented Feb. 2s, 1967' advantages and features are clearlyillustrated as well as others which will be clear from the followingdescription.

In the drawing:

FIG. l is a diagrammatic View of the present invention incorporated tosequentially operate three circuits;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a measuring or gauge deviceconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a view of a portion of FIG. 2 showing the mounting details ofa part of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a side view, partly in section, of another measuring devicewhich may be used as a depth gauge or the like.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to FIG. 1, the illustratedembodiment of the invention includes three alternating current loads 1,2 and 3 adapted to -be connected to power lines 4 and 5 from an incomingpower supply such as the conventional volt alternating current employedin the United States. The circuits to loads 1, 2 and 3 are completed insequence by a circuit controlling means 6 which is the subject matter ofthe present invention.

The diagrammatically illustrated embodiment of the invention includes acontact bar 7 which is preferably steel or the like and inhighlypolished contact face or surface 8. The bar 7 is disposed in oatingarrangement above individual contacts 9-14 which are selectivelyconnected to the several loads 1-3, as presently described. The numberof contacts can of course be varied in accordance with the outputsdesired as more fully appears from the operational description.

The contacts 9-14 are supported in any suitable manner in generallycircumferentially spaced relation to define a convex array immediatelybelow and in alignment with the at and polished contact surface 8 of thecontact bar 7. The convex array opens downwardly from the contactsurface 8 with the bar 7 resting on one or two contacts as hereinafterdescribed. The contacts 9-14 are preferably formed as spheres as shownor at least with a spherical contact surface to presenta pointengagement with the flat contact surface 8 of bar 7.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the contacts 9-14 arepaired, with the outer end contact 9 connected by a jumper lead 15 tocontact 12 and end contact 14 connected by a similar jumper lead 16 tothe contact 11. The intermediate contacts 10 and 13 to each The severalloads 1, 2 and 3 are connected between the paralleled circuits and thepower lead S, as shown.

limiting position shown in phantom, spans and engages both of thecontacts 10 and 11. Consequently both of the loads 2 and 3 will resultsin the contact face 8 moving from the original pivot contact 11 to pivotengagement solely about the intermediate contact 10.

and consequently the device provides a very reliable and slmple meansfor detecting the position of the contact bar 7 with respect t-o thespatially distributed contacts 9-14 which in turn can be made to providea reference control or the like. Generally, when employing device inconnection with its most sophisticated form and with spherically shapedcontacts, the voltage and current supplied to the small point contactarea between the contact bar and the several contacts should be limitedto prevent damaging of the surfaces by arcing and the like. Generally,in such sensitive circuit constructions, when the voltage and thecurrent are so limited, amplification will be required. A high impedancecircuit such as a vacuum tube or the like would generally be employed,as the input part of each load 1-3.

In the illustrated embodiment -of the invention, capacitors 18 and 19are connected in each of the lines 4 and Y to reduce the voltage and thelcurrent to minimum; for

example, to the order of 2 or 3 volts and 5 milliamps or less. Theprecise current and voltage characteristics employed will be limitedgenerally by the work function of the contact bar and the contacts andby the desired life of the device.

In ycertain practical applications, useful tools can be made at asuiciently low cost to permit replacement of the bar and/or contacts andthe power limitations can be substantially increased as a practicalmatter.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, the present invention is shownin simplified form as incorporated in a gauge or measuring device.

Referring particularly to FIG. 2, a housing 20 is provided within whichspherical or base contacts 21 are mounted in a generally convex arraywhich opens upwardly. A contact bar 22, similar to that shown in FIG. 1,is disposed in iloating generally horizontal arrangement below thespherical contacts 21 and is connected at one end to a gauge measuringrod 23 which is slidably supported for vertical movement at an anglesubstantially perpendicular to the normal horizontal position of theContact bar 22, with a spherical work engaging member 24 secured to thelower end of the rod 23 by a suitable support 25. Springs 26 and 27 a-ctbetween bar 22 and rod 23, to hold the bar in engagement with a contact21. Thel lower end member 24 yof the rod 23 is positioned with respectto a reference base 28 constructed to define a predetermined spacingwith the contact bar 22 in a horizontal position. If the rod 23 is movedto either side of this reference position, it :correspondingly pivotsthe contact bar 22 to engage a different contact 21 and establish asignal circuit or the like, not shown, in FIGS. 2` and 3 for clarity andsimplicity of explanation.

More particularly in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the contacts 21 are heldin a two-piece support block 29 which i sA physically secured within thehousing 20 as by mountmg bolts 30. The block 29 includes cylindricalopenings, one for each `of the contacts 21 and within which a stainlesssteel or. other suitable threaded insert 31 is suitably secured; forexample, by clamping between the two parts of block 29. Each of thespherical contacts 21 is suitably fixed to the upper end ofa relatedthreaded rod 32 for adjustment within the corresponding tapped insert31. This permits accurate positioning of the several contacts 21 withrespect to one another to define the convex array, and particularly thenecessary pivotal movement of the contact bar 22 on one contact beforeit engages an adjacent contact.

The contact bar 22 is generally formed as in FIG. 1 and is mounted in agenerally floating arrangement within a suitable U-shaped guide member33 which is also suitably secured within housing 20 and opens upwardlyin alignment with the contacts 21. The upper edges of the side arms ofmember 33 are concave as at 34 to accommodate the convex arrangement ofthe contacts 21.

The outer end of the contact bar 22 is pivotally secured to the shaft orrod 23 in Iany suitable manner. In the illustrated embodiment of theinvention, a -forked member 35 is tixedto the outer end of the pivot bar22 as by pins 36.

Members 35 includes spaced arms 37 and 38 projecting 23 as by a pin 40.The outer ends of the arms 37 and '38 are provided with similar V-shapedrecesses 41 mating with the opposite ends of the pin 40 which projectsin opposite directions from the shaft and the bushing 39. The springs 26and 27 are small coil springs secured to opposite sides of the forkedmember 35. One end of each spring is pinned to the bushing 39 above thepin 40, as by a pin 42, and the opposite end is similarly secured to thefork 35 as by pin 43. The coil springs 26 and 27 hold the pin 4@ withthe recesses 41 and resiliently urge the bar 22 upwardly into engagementwith the contacts 21.

The measuring rod 23 is slidably mounted within the housing 20 forvertical reciprocation with the upper and lowerV portions disposedwithin suitable bearings 44 and 45 which preferably provide a closesliding fit permitting relatively free vertical movement whileessentially preventing any lateral or pivotal movement of the measuringrod 23.

The base 2S is provided with a hardened, flattened surface which definesa reference plane from which all measurements are taken by detecting theposition of the lower end of the rod 23 with respect thereto.

The contacts 21 can be connected in any suitable load circuit, forexample, as shown in FIG. l, to provide an electrical output signal.

In a gauge device similar to that shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the contacts21 were interconnected to energize small neon lamps which required onlya minimal voltage and current. In more sophisticated and expensivecontrols, the circuit might be connected to a vacuum tube controlcircuit, as previously discussed.

The present invention as applied to a gauge measuring device has beenfound to provide a very simple and inexpensive means for measuring andgauging work pieces. For example, if it is desired to measure thetolerance of shafts or the like, the contacts 21 are set to have thecontact bar engage a given intermediate contact 21 with the rod 23spaced from the `base 28 by that distance. The engaged contact 21constitutes the initial pivot point for a proper shaft. The shafts to bemeasured may be rolled between the lower end of the measuring rod 23 andthe base 28 and would rapidly cause the contact bar 22 to pivotsuccessively about the contacts 22 and permit rapid positioning inengagement with the contact 21 with the diameter aligned with the end ofrod 23. This would indicate the diameter of the shaft and by appropriatelighting of a lamp or the like indicate whether or not it was within aselected tolerance. The contacts 21 are positioned within the contactblock 29 such that the required pivotal movement to move from thereference or proper contact 21 as a pivot point to an out of tolerancecontact 21 is related to the actual measurement or the difference invertical position of the rod 23 `from the base diameter position.

FIG. 4 illustrates a further simplied application of the presentinvention in a depth gauge or measuring device which has been employedfor measuring the depth of the tread of a tire. Generally, the inventionincludes a small block-like support 46 formed of a suitable plastic orthe like. A plurality of contact pins 47 are embedded in one side of thecontact support 46 and 4project laterally therefrom. The contact pins 47are disposed in a suitable convex array, in accordance with the previousdiscussion. A contact bar 48 is disposed in alignment with the convexarray and biased toward the contacts 47 by a U-shaped spring 49 securedat one end generally centrally of the contact bar 48 and at the oppositeend to a suitable portion of the contact block 46. The pins 47 and bar48 can be connected in a suitable signalling circuit, for example, witheach pin connected to energize a separate relatedneon lamp or the like,not shown.

A suitable cover 50 is secured to the support 46 -overlying the contactpins 47 and 'forming a guide for the bar 48 to prevent undue lateralmovement thereof. The contact bar 48 projects outwardly through a sideslot 51 in the cover 50. The outer end 48 is pivotally secured as by apin 52 to a small gauge shaft or rod 43. The rod is free to moverectilinearly into the tire tread or other recess, the depth of which itis desired to measure. The movement of the rod 53 into the recess causesthe contact bar 48 to pivot about the successive contact pins 47 andterminate in engagement with one contact pin 47 related to the degree ofmovement. This in turn provides an indication of the movement withrespect to the reference contact pin 47, in the illustrated embodimentshown as a right-hand-most pin.

The present invention thus provides a very simple and inexpensive meansfor accurately measuring a movement or a distance and more particularlya position with respect to any desired reference position.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as beingwithin the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out anddistinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as theinvention.

I claim:

1. In a circuit controlling means,

a plurality of contacts mounted in a generally convex array, and

a contact member having a Contact surface aligned with the convex arrayand mounted to successively engage the several contacts and pivot aboutan engaged contact into engagement with an immediately adjacent contact.

2. The circuit controlling means rof claim 1 wherein generally circularcontacts are employed to minimize the contact area between the contactsand the contact member.

3. The circuit controlling means of claim 2 wherein the contact memberincludes a flat contact surface engaging said contacts.

4. The circuit controlling means of claim 1 wherein the contacts arespherical members presenting an essentially point contact to the contactmember.

5. The circuit controlling means of claim 4 wherein the contact memberincludes a flat contact surface engaging said contacts.

6. The circuit controlling means fof claim 3 wherein the contact memberand contacts are connected in a low voltage and current circuit tominimize arcing and damaging of the contact member and contacts.

7. In a circuit controlling means,

a plurality of contact rods terminating in generally spherically shapedcontacts on Ione end of the rods,

a support having a plurality of laterally spaced and aligned openings,one for each of said rods,

adjustable means supporting the rods within the openings forlongitudinal movement therein for arranging ofthe contacts in a convexarray,

a contact bar having a at contact edge surface,

guide means aligned with the contacts, said contact bar mounted in theguide means for movement toward and away from said contacts,

means urging the bar toward the contacts, and

positioning means secured to an end portion rof the bar to pivot the baron said contacts.

8. In a circuit controlling means,

a support having a reference surface means,

a contact block secured to the support,

a plurality of laterally spaced rod members adjustably mounted in thecontact block for longitudinal movement with respect to the referencesurface means,

spherical contacts secured to corresponding ends of the rod members andpositioned in a predetermined convex array,

a contact bar disposed in alignment with the contact-s, said bar havinga flat and polished contact surface opposing said contacts,

a guide means on the support with the contact bar disposed within theguide means to permit free movement toward and away from the contactswhile preventing lateral movement thereof,

a position sensing rod slidably mounted in the support along a linesubstantially normal to the contact bar, and

means to pivotally attach the contact bar to the sensing rod to pivotthe contact bar yon said contacts in response to movement of the rod.

9. In a circuit controlling means,

a contact block,

a plurality of contact pins embedded in the block and projectingoutwardly from a common side thereof, said contact pins disposed in aconvex array,

a floating contact bar aligned with the contact pins and having a at andpolished surface opposing said contact pins,

resilient means secured to the contact bar and urging the bar intoengagement with the contact pins, and

a measurement rod pivotally secured to one end of the contact bar andmounted for rectilinear movement for pivoting contact bar about anengaged contact pin into pivoting engagement with an adjacent pin.

No references cited.

ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner. H. O. JONES, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A CIRCUIT CONTROLLING MEANS, A PLURALITY OF CONTACTS MOUNTED IN AGENERALLY CONVEX ARRAY, AND A CONTACT MEMBER HAVING A CONTACT SURFACEALIGNED WITH THE CONVEX ARRAY AND MOUNTED TO SUCCESSIVELY ENGAGE THESEVERAL CONTACTS AND PIVOT ABOUT AN ENGAGED CONTACT INTO ENGAGEMENT WITHAN IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT CONTACT.